Fontana del Leone - La Barberina

Located in the square between Via Sant’Andrea and Via Cesare Battisti, the Fonte del Leone is a historic fountain in Urbino that was once used daily by washerwomen and local residents for collecting water and carrying out household chores. Its current monumental appearance dates back to the early 18th century, when Cardinal Annibale Albani—a prominent patron and figure in the city—commissioned its renovation. On that occasion, a grand rusticated stone façade was built against the embankment that now forms part of the Botanical Garden. The structure features three elegant arched niches, with the central one, larger than the others, houses a statue of a river nymph, the Barberina, symbolizing the purity and abundance of water. The lion, from which the fountain takes its name, is still visible and remains one of its most recognizable sculptural elements, representing strength and protection for the city.